A new neighbourhood health and care team, called the Integrated Neighbourhood Team, or INT, has launched in Merton this week.

The team consists of specialists from Merton Council, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, St George’s, Epsom, and St Helier Hospitals, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Merton Connected and Merton Health working to bring health and care services together to support residents. 

The INT team will consist of GPs, social workers, mental health specialists, occupational therapists and rehabilitation teams and is designed to make it easier for residents to get the care and help they need, closer to home, following a referral from a GP, healthcare professional or after a stay in hospital. 

By working with the INT team, residents will receive the right support sooner, be able to recover well and stay independent for longer. 

For health and care professionals, this pilot will allow them to develop and tailor one care plan and recovery pathway for residents – enabling them to develop a strong relationship, identify any risks early and intervene before a crisis arises.  

Councillor Peter McCabe, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care said: 

We are proud to have launched the new Integrated Neighbourhood Model. This initiative will shift care from hospitals and into communities and enable residents to receive the tailored care they need closer to home.  

It is the first of its kind in Merton and has been designed by more than 250 frontline practitioners from ten organisations working together. 

It is essential that we enable residents to receive the tailored care they need to remain independent, and with the INT pilot, they will remain close to the family, friends and support they need 

The INT will allow teams to work collaboratively to care for residents from all specialities to deliver aligned and tailored care, transforming how health and care is delivered in Merton

The INT pilot scheme launched on Monday, 28 September, and will travel to residents to deliver care and support.